Old Style preparations for Christmas 2012!!!!!

bossymoo

I've been to the Argos sale too! Got some half price happyland stuff. Very pleased with my purchases!

fuddle

Possession wrote: »

Last year I got mine from a car boot fair - paid about £7 in total for about 10 baskets. I also used a couple of smart boxes I had from super cheap hamper deals. This year I bought a basket set in the Jan sales from Argos, and I definitely won't be buying any of the hamper deals, even when they get really cheap. But I know people have used shoe boxes or even fruit boxes from the supermarket, and covered them in wrapping paper. Don't go too big as they look better with a bit of height.

Here are some of mine from last year:

Possession they are beautiful You've inspired me. I've just bought a christmas 'winter dream' pillar candle to start my MIL's candle hamper. I'm very excited but worried it'll look pants

Edited to add: I just bought a squirting bath book for my neice. I'll get other bath toys and bath crayons etc to add to it.

I feel so in control and loving Amazons free super saver delivery

louisaL

Nice cheap Christmas this year, instead of 20 or so people to buy for my side of the family have agreed to do a secret santa with a £15 budget.
Then we only need to buy for MIL, 2 brother in laws, 1 sis in law, 2 nieces and DH's Nan.

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Possession they are beautiful You've inspired me. I've just bought a christmas 'winter dream' pillar candle to start my MIL's candle hamper. I'm very excited but worried it'll look pants

Edited to add: I just bought a squirting bath book for my neice. I'll get other bath toys and bath crayons etc to add to it.

I feel so in control and loving Amazons free super saver delivery

It will look fab! . How about some Mr Matey (or Miss Matey!) bubble bath for your niece? Or on ebay you can get personalised flannels (or if you're good at sewing i guess you could do that yourself - definitely out of my league, I can cook but I can't do much else!).

lisakay_2

I'm feeling super excited about christmas already:j.
I bought a couple of presents in the jan sales, but today I made my first batch of onion marmalade. it's now in jars in the garage ready to make pretty for christmas presents:D only 5 jars so far, but it's so nice I'll be making more, when I get back from holiday I'll be making chilli jam to go with it and getting my christmas cakes done. also planning on doing damson gin. did it last year and it went down an absolute storm:beer: the local pub saved me the empty little wine bottles so i'll ask them again this year. I'll be collecting baskets and boxes over the next few months ready to make them into little hampers. I'll think of another chutney to do as well and maybe put in a packet of oatcakes or something. that will be most of my presents sorted except brother and sister who just wouldn't appreciate it, and the littlies.

:beer:

fuddle

Feeling so guilty I bought some items yesterday that weren't budgetted for. I have to get into the mentality that it's good to spread it over the year and begin to budget each month for it.

Possession

fuddle wrote: »

Feeling so guilty I bought some items yesterday that weren't budgetted for. I have to get into the mentality that it's good to spread it over the year and begin to budget each month for it.

Why not make a Christmas budget plan specifically spreading the cost over the remaining months in so far as you can (ie. you won't want to buy the turkey now!) - then you won't feel guilty about it.
I rarely feel guilty about spending money, maybe that's my problem!

Possession

There's a great sale on at DotComGiftShop, thanks to autumnGirl on the Grabbit thread. Up to 90% off and great stocking fillers, party bag stuff etc, lots of retro stuff too, perfect for my sister's birthday. Prices starting from 10p (although of course there would be postage to pay on that!).
http://www.dotcomgiftshop.com/summer-sale?all=1

PhGage

This is such a good idea. I've been wondering whether we need to start the Christmas Cakes this month or August (some of the fruit has been soaking since last year but we might think about doing some more). We normally bake 30-40 full size fruit cakes and 12 stollen plus 100-120 tiny fruit cakes (1 in square). The stollen were very popular last year so we might replace some of the fruit cakes with more of those.

We're thinking of giving HM vanilla extract to people this year as the F&F we've given it to previously have enjoyed it (we also do a version which doesn't use alcohol as a solvent and that's appreciated by people who must have everything alcohol free). The only downside of this is tracking down suitably sized and priced bottles which is a reason to start looking now.

nat21luv

I'm on board too!

Just bought my first Xmas present of the year for my mother from dotcomgiftshop, it was perfect and one of those 'saw it and thought of you' moments...a doormat saying neighbourhood witch! also snapped up a few bits for my DS and DD's stockings, my boy is nearly 9 and questioning whether Santa is real so this will be the last year of magic for him my DD is only 2.5 so at least I can still make it magical for her